An unofficial blog that watches Google's attempts to move your operating system online since 2005. Not affiliated with Google.

Send your tips to gostips@gmail.com.

July 23, 2010

A New Chrome Release Every 6 Weeks

Chromium Blog informs us that Google will release stable Chrome versions more often. "Running under ideal conditions, we will be looking to release a new stable version about once every six weeks, roughly twice as often as we do today. (...) Since we are going to continue to increment our major versions with every new release (i.e. 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0) those numbers will start to move a little faster than before. Please don't read too much into the pace of version number changes - they just mean we are moving through release cycles and we are geared up to get fresher releases into your hands!"

Anthony Laforge says that it takes too long to release new features and users have to wait for months to use them. Google Chrome 4.1 was an interesting experiment: the first Chrome release that added a very small number of features. Instead of waiting until May, when Chrome 5 was released, users could try inline translation and content filtering in March.

Here's a list of the major Chrome releases:

Chrome 1 - December 11, 2008 (first stable release)
.. 161 days ..
Chrome 2 - May 21, 2009 (full-page zoom, autofill)
.. 117 days ..
Chrome 3 - September 15, 2009 (HTML5 video, themes)
.. 132 days ..
Chrome 4 - January 25, 2010 (extensions, bookmark sync)
.. 57 days ..
Chrome 4.1 - March 23, 2010 (translation, content filtering)
.. 63 days ..
Chrome 5 - May 25, 2010 (better HTML5 support, tabbed bookmark manager, built-in Flash)

It's clear that Google wants to decrease the interval between two releases from about 100 days to about 50 days. That means each release will include less new features and will be less important.

12 comments:

  1. "That means each release will include less new features and will be less important."

    True, less features, but I respectfully disagree with them being less important. More regular releases mean developers get to use new extension API's sooner and designers get better HTML 5 support faster.

    That said, if you're on the dev builds, this change won't affect you anyway (as you're already updated about once a week).

    ReplyDelete
  2. http://www.thechromesource.com/hey-john-simpson-how-about-i-interview-you/

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is great! now stable users will be able to see the changes more often, and get used to them faster than all of the sudden having a big change that makes them think it's a completely new browser!

    I think many of them might get mad when they see version 6 since there is too many changes, and they will just be confused

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love Google as Search Engine, Nexus one and other services ofc..but honestly speaking I'm not satisfied with Browser stuff..:( It's not compatible with many websites as mozilla does and addons aswell...this has to be fixed to compete with other browsers...I like Google and it Rocks!! no doubt about it..

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Chrome 2 - May 21, 2009 (full-page zoo, autofill)"

    How do I access this zoo you speak of?

    In all seriousness though, its not exactly a bad thing that its going to update more regularly... its better to have a finetuned browser than one that does lots of things okayish... the phrase "Jack of all trades, master of none" springs to mind.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Let's just hope it stays just as polished.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like all google service and stuff. But little bit prefer mozila firefox than chrome.

    ReplyDelete
  8. it is really very important information for me thanks a lot brother for this update

    ReplyDelete
  9. I didn't know about canary. Thanks for the tip.

    ReplyDelete
  10. its better coz every time the product updates it will bring some new and advance stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Newer version is always better then old stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Maybe google has just a faster development in mind, and the results will not be as less important.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.